Jerry Burin and Phil Keuhn of Sieben Energy Associates discuss the benefits of accessing information about energy-consuming systems in an article titled "The Energy Doctor Is In" from the November 2012 issue of Facility Management Journal.

​Energy data is collected and analyzed as never before. Nearly every industry has been revolutionized by the continuous processing of numbers at unprecedented speed and scale. Purposeful data analysis elicits new perspectives on how value is assigned to products and services. Data collection and handling is important, yet we find that the value is in the interpretation as well as the response.

While there are costs associated with data management, if leveraged appropriately the advantages will produce significant ROI. The more accurate and in-depth the data analysis, the more value is derived from it. The same is true of data use: the more an organization uses data to inform day-to-day operations and to develop long-term goals, the greater the return.

Energy planning has become essential business practice at many major corporations. Understandably, smaller organizations have been slower to join the trend. Now may be the time to act. After falling sharply during the recession, energy prices are expected to escalate substantially in the near future. In addition, sustainability and energy benchmarks have become increasingly important to potential customers and investors looking to differentiate organizations. For these reasons, an actionable, effective energy plan is a valuable tool in the hands of leadership of any organization, large or small.

This overview of energy planning first examines how select corporations have integrated energy into their strategic planning. Regardless of size, industry, budget, or location, thinking about energy and implementing steps to improve energy consumption and procurement have the potential to reduce cost, improve efficiency, and excite existing and potential clients and customers. Whether you employ four, four hundred, or forty thousand people, a realistic energy plan can help sustain and grow your business.Copy this template before you save.

Energy efficiency has always been central to the business of Sieben Energy Associates. In a newly published report for Environment Illinois, entitled "Saving Energy, Growing Jobs", Rob Kerth and Max Muller discuss the energy efficiency sector in Illinois. They conclude that "330 individual businesses and 737 retail outlets in Illinois are already working to increase the efficiency of our state's homes, businesses and industry."

Sieben Energy Associates is one of those 330 businesses, and it is featured in a lengthy case study on pages 12-13 of the report, under the headline, "Twenty Years of Energy Efficiency Leadership: Sieben Energy Associates of Chicago". The piece focuses on the history and success of SEA as well as trends and opportunities for the industry. The entire report serves as an excellent introduction to the business case for energy efficiency.Copy this template before you save.

In a feature article by Jennie Morton in this month's issue of Buildings Magazine, Dan Bailey of Sieben Energy Associates is quoted several times discussing the future of solar photovoltaics. The article, "The Next Wave of Solar", introduces thin-film solar cell technology, which makes it possible for solar cells to be incorporated into functional parts of a building. They no longer need to be accessories placed on top of or next to the structure.

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPVs) are a growing trend. BIPVs seamlessly combine the solar cells with standard materials used in the building envelope—such as roofs, glass, or façade. Solar cells are no longer confined to the domain of building engineering; they increasingly appear in the context of building design and building architecture.